Rotary engine



Much 1938. METZLER ZJEQ55 ROTARY ENG INE Filed May 15, 1933 4 Sheets-Shegt 1 25 657 m x 68 2 30 7 $0 13 2 6 a 25 5Q 31 g 1&9 6?

INVENTOR n Hetz Mawch 9 flgfifiu METZLER 2,11%,554

ROTARY ENGINE Filed May 15, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 8, 1938.

A. METZLER ROTARY ENGINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 v a Z! .w

Filed May 15, 1935 Patented Mar. 8, 1938 PATENT GFFICE.

ROTARY ENGINE Anton Mctzler, Rochester, N. Y., assignor of onehalf to Anthony Metzler, Rochester, N. Y.

Application May 15, 1933, Serial No. 671,196

10 Glaims.

The object of this invention is to provide a rotary motor which is driven by water or steam, etc., in which the central axis or tube through which the power is supplied remains stationary, and the motor housing rotates around it, being driven by the circulation of the water or steam from the central axis into the motor housing, and then out again through the central axis.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stationary gear mounted on a stationary inside casing, and to surround this with a rotating housing provided with a plurality of vanes which are turned by pinions which mesh with and travel around the stationary gear on the stationary casing. 1 l

Another object is to provide a rotary vane turning around a stationary core that is fastened rigidly to the outside rotating housing.

These and other objects of the invention will be illustrated in the drawings, described in the specification, and pointed out in the claims at the end thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through my rotary motor, the section being taken on the line L's-4a: of Figure 3.

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the end of my rotary motor, the section being taken on the line 2:r2:c of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through my rotary motor, the section being taken on the line Elan-3r of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of one of the rotary vanes. i 1- Figure 5 is an end elevation of the vane and pinion of Figure 4 viewed from the left.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of one of the stationary cores around which the Vane rotates.

Figure '7 is an end elevation of the core shown in Figure 6, viewed from the left.

Figure 8 is a section on the horizontal line Bar -liar of Figure 3, looking up in the direction of the arrow, the section being partly broken away at the left on or near the vertical line tint-81: of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a sectional elevation on the line 91:9a: of Figure 3 on a smaller scale looking in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 10 is a vertical section taken through the apparatus shown in Figure l on the line "Hlwi0r of Figure 1.

Figure 11 is a side elevation of the rotary housing. E 3

Figure 12 is a sectional View on a smaller scale ,55 through one of the stationary arms of the stationary casing the section being taken on the line tar-42a: of Figure 1 showing the ducts through which oil is distributed.

In the drawings like reference numerals indicate like parts.

In the drawings reference numeral I indicates the hollow stationary casing or support having a web 2 extending diametricallyacross it. On this web are fastened the blades or arms 3 and l shown in section in Figure l. 10

The stationary casing is contained in a rotating housing 5 shown in Figures 1, 3, and 10. This rotating housing is a cylindrical shell provided with seven shells 6, l, 8, 9, 50, H and, I2,

which are formed integral with the rotating housing. Each of these shells is cored out to form passages for the steam or water and to receive the rotating vane or vane l3 shown in. Figure 4. Seven of these rotating vanes are provided, one in each shell. These rotating vanes are all alike, and on the end are provided with a pinion 14, all of which mesh with a stationary gear l5 provided on the end of the inside stationary casing. As the outside housing rotates, the pinions M, of which seven are shown in Figure 2, are in engagement with the stationary gear 15 and turn on their own axes, being turned by their engagement with the stationary gear, around which they move with the rotating housing. Each of the pinions M is provided with eight teeth, and the gear iii is provided with 32 teeth so that the ratio between the pinions and the large gear i5 is one to four, and this will cause each of the vanes l3 to make four complete revolutions as the outside housing turns through one revolution.

As shown in Figure 3, 26 is an entrance port in stationary member 20 through which steam or water under pressure enters the rotary motor, and in turn passes into the port 2! in the casing i. The driving fluid, steam or water, passes out through the port 22 in casing l and through the port 23 in stationary members 20". It will be understood that the ports 20 and 23 are stationary and will connect with suitable corresponding ports in casing l framework of the automobile. The members 26 and 20" shown at the right of Figure 3 are swivelly connected to the stationary casing I in which the ports 2| and, 22 are formed, and the ports in the members are in alignment with the ports in the stationary casing l on a central axis that corresponds with the section line 9.r9a: of Figure 3, it being understood that the section linelx-9x on Figure 3 represents a vertical axis.

on which all of the parts at the left of Figure 3 can swing on a horizontal plane.

It will also be understood that the parts at the left of Figure 3 serve as a support on which the hub of a wheel will be fastened, and which wheel will rotate with the outer housing and will be driven thereby in the manner now described.

As shown in Figure 9 the driving fluid enters from the bottom, through the ports 20 and 2|, and passes around through the openings 24 in the inside stationary casing and through the ports 25, 25 into the segmental opening between the stationary inside casing and the rotating outside housing. As shown near the top of Figure 1, the core 3!] slides past the end of the arm 4 and its valve leaves open the ports on either side of it. While this occurs, high pressure steam can enter the annular space ahead of it and exhaust steam can pass out from the annular space behind it. The steam presses against the valve ahead of it, which has closed the annular space, and causes the rotation of the outside housing. Each valve in turn closes this annular space while the valve behind it is admitting steam thereto. Each of the valves will turn through one complete revolution in going one quarter of the way around the circle shown in Figure 1 and will go through a half revolution by the time it has advanced forty-five degrees. As fast as the valves close, the steam is trapped between the closing valve and the valve ahead of it and this steam remains idle until the valve ahead reaches the exhaust port or the arm 3, at which time the valve takes the position shown near the top of Figure 1, permitting the exhaust steam to pass out on one side of the arm 3 and high pressure steam to pass into the annular space on the other side of the arm 3, it being understood that in each case the steam flows in the direction shown by the arrows in Figure 1.

It will be seen in Figure I that the arms 3 and divide the annular passageway into two segments, and when the vanes come to these arms it is necessary for the vanes to pass over these arms without making mechanical or obstructing contact therewith. The gearing by which the vanes are rotated is so adjusted that the vane is contained in the shell at the time the vane is passing over these arms, and the cores 30 slide past the ends of the arms 3 and 4, making close sliding contact therewith so that there is little or no leakage at that point. The outer end of each arm 3 and 4 is flared out so that it more than spans the opening through which the vane rotates, thus closing the opening so that no leakage can occur through the opening.

In each shell a passageway 3| is provided, through which suitable lubricating material is fed to the vane so that it will be properly lubricated while it rotates.

By inspection of Figures 3 and 10 it will be seen that the stationary casing includes the inlet port 2|, and the outlet port 22, the cylinder 35, the boss 31, and the stud 38a, all of which are integral and stationary.

The housing 5 rotates and with it are joined other parts that may be described as follows. An annular ball race 38 is provided, which rotates against a similar stationary ball race 39 provided on the housing I. An.annular head 40 is provided, which is separated from the annular ball race 38 by a spacing ring 4|. The spacing ring and the annular head 40 are held together by a ring 42 having a female threaded end with which it engages the male thread on the ball race 38, and having a shouldered rim 43, which engages with the annular head 40.

The stationary cores 33 are assembled on the annular head 43. Each of these cores is provided on the end with a stud 44, which passes through an opening in the annular head and is fastened thereon by a washer 45 and nut 46.

The cores are first fastened to the annular head 43 and then the ball race 38 is placed in proper position with the spacing ring 4| between the race and the head 40. The ring 42 is then slipped over the assembly, and makes threaded engagement with the rim of the ball race 38. The parts so assembled can then be slipped over the cylinder 35.

At the end of the rotating housing 5 is provided an annular head 4?, which is perforated at suitable intervals 48a to receive the studs 48 on the vanes |3, which extend through it. A head 49 is provided having a perforation therein that goes over each of the studs 48.

A pinion i4 is then placed on the stud 48 and keyed thereon, so that the pinion and vane 3 rotate together.

As will be seen at the top of Figure 3, the head 45 is countersunk as shown at 45a to receive the end of the stationary core 30 and the end of the rotating vane l3.

The gear I5 is fastened to the boss 31 by four screws 50 as shown in Figure 2. This gear remains stationary with the boss while the pinions l4 rotate around it and are turned thereby. On the end of the boss 3'! is provided a cap 5|, which is provided with a ball race 52, which makes contact with a similar ball race 52a on the boss 31. The cap 5| has a flange 5|a thereon which makes close contact with the head 47, and rotates therewith together with the head 33 and the parts that are held therebetween, which includes the housing 5, and the seven shells, and the seven vanes and the seven cores.

It will be understood that my motor, which is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, is adapted to carry the front wheel of a car and is also adapted to be swivelly supported on the frame of a car on a vertical axis so that the wheel can be turned for steering.

To provide for the turning of a front wheel, I provide the skew rack 55 shown in horizontal section in Figure 8, which meshes with the skew gear or pinion 55 shown in Figure 3, which is driven by the steering post 56'.

To provide lubrication, I provide in the. casing I two oil holes or ducts 5'5, 57, which may be connected to oil cups not shown. The head 38 at suitable intervals is provided with oil ducts 58, and rotates in a channel 38 in the head I. As the head 38 rotates on casing carrying ducts 58 with it the ducts 5?, they will take oil therefrom, which will be fed into the shell and will serve to lubricate the. rotating vanes. At two or more places I provide ducts 59 shown at the bottom of Figure 10, which extend from the head 40 to the head 47, and convey the oil from the right hand side of the assembly shown in Figure 3 to the left hand side, so that oil will be fed to all the moving parts and lubrication will be secured thereby.

As shown in Figure 7, the stationary core 33 is provided with an oil duct 60 running across the end thereof and oil ducts 6| on each side thereof. An oil duct 30a shown in Figure 1 runs through the core. These convey the oil from one end of the assembly to the other.

InFigu're 12 I have shown a section of the endofoneof the arms 3 and 5. As shown, the arm is bored to form the ducts 54 running across the arm, and the lateral ducts 65 extending outward therefrom, andthe ducts 66 branching off of the two end ducts 65.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 10, I provide seven bolts 61, which are used to tie together the heads 40 and 41.

The outer ends of the arms 3 and 4 are connected to the casing l by webs 68, 68 which are shown in side elevation in Figure 1 and end elevation in Figures 3 and 10. These webs strengthen the ends of the arms and hold them in place rigidly with reference to the stationary casing and still leave ample room for the flow of steam past them through the ports 25 and 26.

Steam enters through the entrance port 20 and passes into the port 2|, and from there into the openings 25 or chambers 24, 24. From these chambers it passes out through the openings 25, 25, indicated by the arrows, into the annular space surrounding the inside stationary casing. The steam or water acts against the vanes l3 and drives the outside housing in the direction indicated by the arrow. As the housing rotates, the vane finally opens to permit the steam or water to escape, through the ports 26 and 21, into the exhaust passageways 28, 28, along which it travels to the exhaust ports 22 and 23. While the outside housing rotates, the vanes l3 are rotated in synchronism therewith, so that the vanes are in the correct position to pass over the blades or arms 3 or 4 and hold the steam or water while it passes from chambers 24, 24 into the annular space surrounding the casing i. In this way the rotating housing is driven by the steam or water and rotates on the stationary casing within it.

I claim:

1. A rotary motor, a stationary casing, a rotating housing around it with an annular space between the casing and housing, the stationary casing being hollow, webs and blades dividing it into passageways, said blades in said casing projecting diametrically from said stationary casing and making contact with the rotary housing, said stationary casing being cut away on each side of said blades, webs by which the stationary casing is connected to said blades, and forming ports which lead into and out of the stationary casing.

2. In a rotary motor, the combination of a stationary cylindrical casing cut away at two diametrically opposite places, leaving openings in the periphery thereof, blades extending radially through said openings, webs connecting said blades to the periphery of said stationary casing, leaving ports between said webs.

3. In a rotary motor, the combination of members having an inlet and an outlet port, a nonrotating casing swivelly mounted between them, and having inlet and outlet ports therein engaging with the ports above mentioned, a segmental skew gear concentric with the axis of said swivel, means engaging with said segmental skew gear for swinging said casing on its axis.

4. In a rotary motor, the combination of members having an inlet and an outlet port, a nonrotating casing swivelly mounted between them, and. having inlet and outlet ports therein engaging with the ports above mentioned, a housing mounted to rotate around the non-rotating casing, with an annular space between them, vanes in said rotating housing that alternately close and open the annular space between the casing and housing, ball bearings between said casing and housing, permitting the outer housing to rotate on the inner casing.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination of a non-rotating cylindrical casing, a cylindrical housing rotating around it, said cylindrical housing having at one end a ball race, an annular head, a spacing ring separating them, and a ring having a flange on one end and a thread on the other end to hold the ball race and the annular head together and suitably spaced apart by the spacing ring.

6. In a rotary engine, the combination of a non-rotating cylindrical casing, a cylindrical housing rotating around it, said cylindrical housing having at one end a ball race,an annular head, a spacing ring'separating them, and a ring having a flange on one end and a thread on the other end to hold the ball race and the annular head together and suitably spaced apart by the spacing ring, stationary cores extending outwardly from said annular head, each of said cores having a threaded end extending through said head into the open space between the head and the ball race, a nut for clamping each of said cores on said head.

7. In a rotary motor, the combination of a stationary cylindrical casing divided diametrically by a web, said casing being cut away at two places diametrically opposite each other and intermediate the ends of said web and forming openings along the periphery thereof, blades extending radially through said openings, webs connecting said blades to the periphery of the stationary casing leaving ports between said webs, said casing being divided thereby into four passageways through two of which the steam can be admitted and through the other two of which the steam can be exhausted.

8. In a rotary engine, the combination of a stationary cylindrical casing, a cylindrical housing rotating around it, with an annular clearance space between them, annular heads at each end of said rotating housing, cores extending outwardly from one of said heads toward the other, each of said cores having a threaded end extending through said head, a vane having an end extending through the other head with a nut thereon, means for causing said vanes to rotate around said stationary cores.

9. In a rotary engine, the combination of a, stationary cylindrical casing, a cylindrical housing rotating around it, with an annular clearance space between them, annular heads at each end of said rotating housing, cores extending ou wardly from one of said heads toward the other, each of said cores having a threaded end extending through said head, a vane having an end extending through the other head with a nut thereon, means for causing said vanes to rotate around said stationary cores, tie rods connecting said annular heads together.

10. In a rotary engine, the combination or a non-rotating cylindrical casing, a cylindrical housing rotating around it, with an annular space between them, said cylindrical housing having an annular head at each end, cylindrical members comprising shells spacing said heads apart, stationary cores in said shells mounted on one of said annular heads, vanes mounted to rotate in the other annular head, each of said vanes being adapted to rotate around the stationary cores and into the annular space between the casing and housing, said stationary casing having a web and blade by which it is divided into four passageways and having blades therein extending across said space and into contact with the rotating housing, said stationary casing having a tating housing, and the other two passageways port on each side of said blades connecting the being adapted to exhaust the steam from said annular space with the passageways in said staannular space tionary casing, two of said passageways being adapted to admit steam into the annular space between the casing and housing to drive the ro- ANTON METZLER. 

